Surfing in North Carolina

The surf in North Carolina is some of the best and least crowded on the entire East Coast of the United States. If you are looking to paddle out on the barrier islands of the Outer Banks in the fall, spring or winter, its very likely you will score high quality surf with just you and your friends. And with the seasonal weather changes comes larger swells and drastic fluctuations in water temperature. Unfortunately in the Outer Banks, we have some of the largest fluctuations of water temperature of anywhere in the world. It can be 80 degrees in the summer and 36 degrees in the winter. As such, if you are going to score waves year round you have to have the right wetsuits. From board shorts and bikinis to 4/3 wetsuits with hoods, booties and gloves, we have your back! Plus we deliver the equipment to your door from Corolla to Hatteras year round! At Kitty Hawk Kayak & Surf School, we want you to shred when its pumping, and we offer surf lessons and surf equipment rentals year round to help you maximize your surf time while in North Carolina.

Surfboard Rentals

New for our 2017 season, we are offering a larger variety of surfboard rentals to help you surf as much as possible while in North Carolina. From high quality soft top beginner surf boards to high performance fiberglass step up sticks for the big days, we have you covered. Check out the surfboard rental options for 2017 or come see us in the fall and scoop up some used boards for cheap:

6’0 Fiberglass Fish Boards: These surfboards are better for small to medium sized surf typically found in the summer. These boards generate lots of speed, are easy to paddle and allow you to carve throwback 1970s style carves and turns. Check one out if you are ready to get off a beginner board and the waves are smaller.

7’6 Fiberglass Fun Shapes: These boards are great if the surf is smaller, and you are ready to try out a

9’0 Fiberglass Longboards: We have some killer Donald Takiyama nose-rider inspired longboards for rent for 2017. These logs will help you dominate the knee high glassy conditions typical in the summer months of June, July & August. They have a nice, scooped out nose for nose riding and hanging ten.

Standard Short Boards: If the surf is pumping and you don’t have your stick, we got you covered. We have helped many a traveling surfer who happened to be on the Outer Banks of North Carolina without a board get out in the surf when its pumping. Swing on by our shop at Kitty Hawk and pick out the perfect shortboard for the conditions whatever time of year it is.

Soft Top Beginner Boards: We also have a tremendous variety of beginner soft top boards for all ages from 6 feet to 9 feet. We have been teaching people to surf on the Outer Banks since 2005, and our quiver of boards is DEEP. Let us deliver your shred sleds to your house, or swing by our shop in Kitty Hawk to pick out the best board for your session.

Surfing North Carolina

Wetsuit Rentals

We are so fortunate to live and shred on the Outer Banks, but DANG does the water get cold. No worries though, as we have wetsuits, booties and gloves no matter what the season.

Spring Suit Wetsuits: Sometimes the water has just enough nip in it to make you want a thin layer of neoprene to shred all day. We have a huge variety of spring suites for kids and adults to maximize water time while surfing in North Carolina. These suites are short sleeves and provide just enough warmth to shred all day or for the dawn patrol sessions. These suits are typically needed in the summer and fall.

3/2 Full Suites: After about October 15th, its time to start wearing a 3/2.

4/3 Full Suits: After about Thanksgiving in North Carolina, its time to hang up the 3/2 and put on the thicker millimeter rubber wetsuits. This is also when the surf really starts to turn on!! Be ready to score pumping surf on the Outer Banks in the winter by renting a 4/3 wetsuit.

Booties: We have plenty of booties to keep your little piggies warm. If its in the winter and you want to shred, we got you covered with a large selection of booties. After mid November, you will need boots and gloves in the Outer Banks until late May.

Gloves: In the dead of winter you will need to wear gloves to score surfing the Outer Banks. We also have a large variety of sizes for gloves to keep your hands warm during your session. After mid November, you will need boots and gloves in the Outer Banks until May.

The Kitty Hawk Kayak & Surf School is stoked to announce our acquisition of the Atlantic Street Inn in Kill Devil Hills. TheAtlantic Street Inn is a 6 bedroom boutique hotel one block from the ocean at Mile Post 9. This former oceanfront cottage has unique nautical craftsmanship that has preserved the old school charm from the property’s original days as an oceanfront cottage. A real throwback to an original Outer Banks beach cottage of the 1950s, the property has been modernized to include all the amenities you would expect with a modern, cottage but with classic Outer Banks nautical decor.

Kayaks, paddleboards, surfboards, wetsuits, are all available on site for rent. Reservations can be made through Atlantic Street Inn website, VRBO or AIRBNB. Check out our slideshow below that really captures the chill and relaxing vibe of the Atlantic Street Inn.

Video Virtual Tour

Photo Virtual Tour

Come join us for a classic, shred-filled adventure on the Outer Banks!

Looking for a quick weekend getaway to the Outer Banks? Check out our Kill Devil Hills Hideaway on airbnb.com. We also offer a discount on all of our recreational activities and rental items for our guests. We can deliver your surf boards, wetsuits, kayaks, SUPs or some beach cruisers for a great weekend away or a week long rental.

The Property

This completely remodeled 750 square foot space offers a clean and modern feel while at the beach. Decor includes tiled showers and bathroom, hardwood floors, a full private kitchen and office space are great for a couple or solo traveler. Free internet is available for all our guests. Kitchen includes coffee maker, all appliances, microwave, blender etc.(all the basics) There is a small separate office included in this one bedroom unit. Summer rentals will only be Sat-Sat.

The Neighborhood

The property is located in Ocean Acres at Mile Post 8.5 in the Outer Banks. Within a 2 mile radius you have a Harris Teeter supermarket, Food Dudes, Kitchen, Mama Kwans, the Outer Banks Brewing Station, Pigmans BBQ, Duck Doughnuts, Slice Pizza, and all the usual fast food restaurants. In fact, its quite possibly the most centrally located beach property in the OBX. Of course the beach is 0.5 miles away!

The Kitty Hawk Kayak & Surf School has added our newest adventure activity on the Outer Banks: Black Bear Tours in the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. Northeast North Carolina has one of the healthiest black bear populations on the planet, and we know just where to go to see these majestic animals. You and your family will enjoy a comfortable drive through the refuge in our air conditioned van with binoculars for safe viewing. We also give educational talks about the American black bear (Ursus americanus) and the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge. Observing black bear in their natural environment is such a cool experience that you will not soon forget. We commonly see black bears, deer, turkeys, alligators, red wolves, barred owls, red tailed hawks, turtles and other wildlife. The Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge is one of the greatest wildlife corridors on the East Coast of the United States. Come check it out and make memories to last a lifetime. Reservations can be made by calling (252) 261-0145.

Alligator River Bear Tour Kitty Hawk Kayak & Surf School

Come explore ecological majesty of one the most impressive wildlife corridors on the East Coast: the Alligator River national Wildlife Refuge. On this 1.5 hour tour, we will cruise through the refuge searching for black bears, turkeys, owls, birds, alligators, deer and other native wildlife of the area. Your tour guide will seek out the nooks and crannies where these animals congregate and also talk about the flora and fauna of the tour.

Prices$55.00 for Adult$30.00 for Child 12 and under$30.00 for Child w/ Booster Seat$30.00 for Child w/carseat

Kitty Hawk Kayak and Surf School is Celebrating 10 Years on the Forefront of Outer Banks Recreation

Wow!!! We can’t believe Kitty Hawk Kayak & Surf School has been in business for 10 years!!! It has been a privilege, a blessing and really darn fun serving Outer Banks locals and visitors alike for the last 10 years!! And with no signs of slowing down yet we plan on helping folks on the Outer Banks learn how to surf, kayak and stand up paddle for many more years to come. And with a decade in business, it has got us nostalgically looking back over the last 10 years at our business and the many 1sts we have experienced as leaders of recreation on the Outer Banks.

The first and only kayak outfitter on the Outer Banks to offer and require American Canoe and Kayak Certification for our guides. Today we offer more kayaking trip than any other outfitter on the Outer Banks.

The first surf school on the Outer Banks to obtain certification with the National Surf School and Instructor Association.

The Outer Banks’ first surf instructor certified by the National Surf School and Instructor Association.

The first surf school on the Outer Banks to offer Stand Up Paddleboarding Lessons and tours. Today we offer and deliver more stand up paddleboard tours on the Outer Banks than any other outfitter on the beach in four locations from Duck to Avon.

The first surf school to offer a full 5 day surf camp for locals and visitors incorporating surfing, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, surf board factory visits and coastal education.

We are the only outfitter on the Outer Banks pledging 1% of our gross receipts to local and international environmental stewardship programs through 1 Percent for the Planet. To date we have contributed almost $20,000 to programs that help conserve and protect our oceans, rainforests and coastlines.

The first outfitter on the Outer Banks to offer guided kayak tours and stand up paddle trips at night to observe bioluminescent bacteria glowing in the water.

For 10 years we have always taken the safety of our customers very seriously, and we are committed to the sound training and safe protocols that we employ to make sure your trip or lesson with us is safe, fun and educational. We will continue to keep your families’ safety our top priority while continuing to offer more first class recreational activities in the incredible environment that is the barrier islands of the Outer Banks. Thanks for surfing, kayaking, renting and stand up paddling with us, and see you on the water!!